IMG 7703

Dragon Boat Race 2025

Grab your oars and life jackets and row down the River Trent for Nottingham Hospitals Charity.

When

Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th July 2025

Where

Victoria Embankment, Nottingham

Registration fee

£50

Minimum Fundraising Amount

£850

Our action packed Dragon Boat Race weekend begins in

Our Dragon Boat Race is back for 2025!

It's time to grab those paddles, put on your life jacket and take to the water - we're heading back to the River Trent for more Dragon Boat action!

In 2024 our Dragon Boat Race events raised over £40,000! We would love for you to get involved in our next event.

Recruit your friends, family, colleagues and anyone who is up for some paddling fun! Minimum age is 13.

No experience is necessary as full training on land and on water is given on the day. Race to victory, raise money for the area of the hospital that is closest to your heart and make a difference to patients and families across Nottingham.

 

Boat Stimulator - Dragon Boat

Great fun for the whole family

The Dragon Boat Race is a great day out for you and your team and for everyone who comes along to support you. 

There will be plenty of Dragon Boat action throughout the day, so invite your cheering squad along for a fun day out. We encourage participants and spectators to bring blankets, gazebos, and a picnic, and enjoy a great day by the river together.

NUH Neonatal - Dragon Boat

On the day

Every team will take part in heats and a final until one team is crowned the fastest on the day.

There will be prizes for first, second and third place each day, with additional prizes for the Best Dressed Team and the Top Fundraising Team.

Team Lifeguards Celebrate - Dragon Boat Race
Dragon Boat Race on the River Trent

Team building at its best

The best part about the Dragon Boat Race is bringing people together. 

Each boat seats 17 people (minimum of 13 people, aged 13 and over), including 1 drummer, so grab your friends, family and colleagues and get involved in some exciting paddling fun!

There are 15 boats available each day, so be quick and book your spot now – these events do sell out!

Take a look at our FAQs

Each team is asked to raise a minimum of £850 in sponsorship – based on 17 team members, that’s only £50 each. When you register, you agree to be bound to the terms and conditions of entry, and commit to raising or donating at least £850. This can be paid at the time of registering if you prefer. You can choose which area of the hospitals or which ward you would like to support through your fundraising. We also encourage participants to request match funding from employers, to help double how much is raised!

Once all 30 boats are filled we will be closing entries. Be quick – this event will sell out!

Sometimes our emails end up in spam inboxes, so please make sure you check in there. If you haven't heard from us within a week of signing up, please get in touch at hello@nottinghamhospitalscharity.org.uk .

Our friendly team are on hand to answer all your questions. Simply drop us an email at hello@nottinghamhospitalscharity.org.uk and we'll get back to you when we can.

To be able to take part in our Dragon Boat Race, you must be 13 years old or older. 

Team Dietetics Celebratory - Dragon Boat Race

A team day with a difference...

Want to get your colleagues involved? The Dragon Boat Race is a great team building exercise and helps build a stronger relationship with you and your colleagues. 

We've helped a wide range of Nottingham businesses get involved in the Dragon Boat Race. Get in touch to find out how we can help you support Nottingham Hospitals.

What to expect on the day 

  • Your group will be given a time of when to arrive but feel free to get there earlier and get the best viewing spot
  • Once your time arrives, you'll be called up with your team for a briefing by the team from Anaconda where you will learn how to row on a beat. 
  • You'll then race heats against other teams to determine who you'll race against in the afternoon.
  • They'll be a break in between races, so feel free to bring your own food or use the local café.
  • One of our team will also be taking photos throughout the day, so make sure your team are ready to give their best smiles. 

Need help with your fundraising?

  • As the Dragon Boat Race is a team event, you can split the fundraising amount between team members. If you are a business or an area within Nottingham hospitals, we can provide you with a collection tin to help you gain more donations. 
  • You can raise this by setting up a JustGiving page or by downloading out sponsorship form.
  • We're here if you need any advice or guidance on how to ask people for donations. Don't worry if you haven't reached your target by the day, sometime it takes a little while for sponsorship money to come in.
  • Feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions about the day or fundraising. You can email us at charity@nuh.nhs.uk or call us on 0115 962 7905

Keep up to date

Sign up to our newsletter to keep in the loop about fundraisers, stories, news and more from Nottingham Hospitals Charity.